25 May 2017 — 0714 mdt
Greg Gianforte charged with assaulting newspaper reporter
Gazette, Missoulian, Helena IR, rescind endorsement editorials
Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte cracked under the strain of the election yesterday evening, choking, throwing to the floor, and punching, a newspaper reporter, according to witnesses that included a news team from Fox News. After the Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputies concluded their investigation, Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault.
Gianforte’s public relations staff argued the “liberal” reporter provoked the wealthy businessman by asking questions too assertively and getting in Gianforte’s personal space, a spin the Fox team rejected:
… Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the reporter. As Gianforte moved on top of Jacobs, he began yelling something to the effect of, “I’m sick and tired of this!”
… To be clear, at no point did any of us who witnessed this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte, who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff’s deputies.
Last night, the Billings Gazette, Missoulian, and Helena Independent Record, all rescinded their endorsements of Gianforte, arguing that his behavior proves he lacks the temperament to be a member of Congress.
Unfortunately, voters who cast absentee ballots for Gianforte because of the endorsements cannot rescind their votes.
As of 0705 MDT today, Gianforte’s website still claimed he was endorsed by the three newspapers. I can tell you with absolute technical authority that it would take no more than five minutes to delete those endorsements.
What caused Gianforte to run amok when a reporter persisted in asking a question? I suspect he was enraged by the reporters persistence, and by his refusal to accept Gianforte’s attempted brush-off. Many men of Gianforte’s wealth expect deference from peope of lower economic station, and consider a reporter’s persistence insolent. Couple that attitude (also not unheard of among generals and admirals) with fatigue, frustration, and fear of failing again, and it’s no surprise that an outbreak of primal aggression occurred.
Will his conduct cost Gianforte the election? It won’t win him votes. But perhaps enough votes have been cast for him already that he’ll survive an outbreak of anti-Gianforte voting if one occurs today.
Much depends on how, and how often, the news media, especially the local news media, report the story today — and on whether voters believe it or care. It will not help Gianforte that Fox News, the news most trusted by Republicans, witnessed and reported on the incident.
The nation will be watching Montana today. Let’s hope we conduct the rest of this election in a manner that makes our fellow citizens proud.